[Action Thread]

[shade_mod]

Who: Everyone and anyone
What: The midnight fireworks display
When: Midnight
Where: Konoha square
Warnings: TBA

Comments

[solitary_bind]

Shikamaru looked up to the sky, dark eyes wondering over the bright lights. Why were fireworks so blasted loud? He twitched, and shook his head trying to adjust his ears to the high volumes. His hair rather flat, save a few short flyaway pieces in his face from the slight breeze that came in and out. His attire was usually almost the same, and within his favorite Chinese flavor. Today was casual, but it held it's elegance. That white fabric draped over him, fitting his slender figure nicely. His eyes lingered longer looking for a familiar face. He all but groaned when he saw the blonde bombshell accompanied by the loudest angel on the planet. And Neji? Since when did Neiji show up for such earthly functions? He walked slowley, his eyes being drawn to the same blonde girl that seemed to capture his attention. He attempted to ignore.

[not_sympathetic]

Chalk another one up to coincidence or fate or maybe that the three of them had agreed to meet up? It was so sweet to see Naruto enjoying himself so much and even though Neji seemed quiet and serious even he had cracked a smile. She was really happy, genuinely happy for the first time in a while. There was no reason to worry about anything-- all serious thought flew out of her head. When she looked up from the two men, she instantly spotted Shikamaru's figure. They hadn't met in a while and she had been slightly concerned that he had disappeared as quickly as he appeared.

"Hey, Shikamaru! Long time no see!" Ino called and waved cheerfully. "Come over here!"

Shikamaru didn't seem much for festivals but maybe he was trying to loosen up? He seemed tense, though, so maybe that wasn't the case.

[solitary_bind]

He caught his breath as he heard that familiar ring to his ears. Truth be told he'd spent some time away after their last encounter at the coffee shop and her bad taste in men. Though he couldn't say that the experience had been so bad for him. It had been rather pleasant, only....it didn't do so well to his angel psyche. The weight on his back was forever getting heavier. However, one look in her direction and one half smile later she'd made it disappear. For the time being.

He walked over slowly, keeping up with his nonchalant attitude.

[not_sympathetic]

"Where have you been lately?" she asked curiously. "Usually I see you around but you disappeared. I've only had Naruto here to keep me entertained," Ino jabbed her thumb in the other blond's direction, voice light and teasing. "Have you been okay?" Truly, she was concerned because he was a nice guy who seemed to have constant shadows looming over him. Just... mysterious. And kind of weird. And hung out with people like Naruto and Neji.

His expression, as careful as he tried to make it, seemed strained to her. Shikamaru probably had something on his mind but maybe this festival could make him forget for a little.

[solitary_bind]

He yawned, brushing off that concern in her face with a simple, "Around." And it was the truth, he'd just not been as around as recently. His interest in her hadn't died down, but the pain in his mind (and back) had made sure that he needed to take a break. If he didn't he may fall into another terrible human pattern....headaches.

The look in her eyes seemed genuine, and rather bothered by his simplistic answer. Another smirk to the side, and he brushed a quick thumb over the concerned corner of her mouth.

"There's no need to worry," he said with that low, monotone voice. But as quickly as he showed that moment of sweetness, he moved his hand away and back to his sides when the other angels may have seen.

[swear_i_tripped]

Honestly, Kankurou had thought there was a battle. The explosions of light and sound had shattered him out of a deep sleep, sizzling across his semi-consciousness and jolting him off of the bench he'd been sleeping on.

The moment he'd opened his eyes, immediately washed in the hot reds, cool blues, and hissing rainbows of light, he'd thought that he was once again thrust into the middle of a battlefield, the fetid breath of some demon hot against the back of his neck. Briefly dazzled, Kankurou's pulse shot up, his hands groping for the sword that was no longer slung against his hip.

The pavement was hard and a little damp; the sky wheeled above him, full of color and sound and remarkably few angelic host.

Oh. Fireworks.

Feeling stupid---a sensation that kept pushing its weight against him more and more often now---he pulled himself to his feet, rubbing his forehead to ward against the hangover that suddenly and ineloquently made itself known.

Fireworks. Voices. A general feeling of okayness washed over him, dulling over the

[solitary_bind]

Shikamaru quirked a brow, his nose twitching at the rotten stinch that seemed to linger when the shaggy haired slouch showed up. Squinting he realized that he recognized this shithead from somewhere and that it was an unsettling feeling. He grunted in displeasure at his seemingly improper behavior but didn't reply just yet only seemed to glare coldly. Hands in his pockets he still stood rather close to the blonde, his posture straight and strong.

[exiled_light]

Naruto was watching rather amused when Ino talked of him and smiled all too brightly when Shikamaru showed up as well. It really couldn’t get any better than this seeing how nicely this was going. He did not notice that another had joined them just behind and actually didn’t even sense the demoted angel. Perhaps it was the flashes of color in the sky or the sense of joy floating all around that made him much too distracted.

The blond hooks his arm with Ino (not noticing the grope she just received at all) and was about to remark about the foul look on Shikamaru’s face when a huge firework screamed into the sky.

BLAM.

It exploded in a rich array of red, gold and silver and broke off into sub explosions. His eyes lifted to the sky and watched with amazement. “This is awesome! Neji, Shikamaru, look at how awesome those are!”

[swear_i_tripped]

"You attract 'em like bugs t'light, you know that?" Kankurou murmured in an undertone to Ino, pasting on an entirely too false grin.

Not one angel. But two. And Neji? That made three.

Augh, oh God be damned.

Kankurou's stomach did a strange and elaborate twist-dance, making him want to vomit and/or run as far and as fast as possible. Angels were not on his 'want' list anymore; not since they'd basically booted him out and frowned at his bare, bruised ass.

It was a grudge, but mostly one aimed just at angels in general and not at any one finely-feathered-fucker. The animosity he felt was for the big man, who stuck everyone equally.

"You're jus' as loud as I remember," Kankurou muttered at Naruto, raising his voice to be heard over the clatter above.

[exiled_light]

Naruto was startled at the voice he finally registered. He looked over his shoulder to see Kankurou standing close to Ino and looked a little bit sick to the stomach.

…He hadn’t seen Kankuro in a long, long time. The blond vaguely remembered what had happened to the angel-- used to be angel-- and it made him very surprised but even more curious. If Kankurou was here, was Temari?

“...Kank?” Naruto said with that hint of surprise in his voice. He stayed with his arm hooked with Ino’s and just blinked at him a moment. “It’s been a long time! I don’t suspect you’re…” very happy to be around us, huh? He would have said more if they were all of holy descent here, “What have you been up to!?”

[not_sympathetic]

What... the hell was going on. How was it that EVERYONE she had met in the past few days had somehow known each other? This was veering dangerously past coincidence and landing head first into very weird. Kankurou was supposed to be an angel-- or was-- or whatever, so if he know all of these people...

No way.

Her heart thumped loudly, partially because of Kankurou and partially because her internal panic button had been pushed. She took a few deep breaths; she didn't want to cause a mass riot or have her head explode or whatever he said would happen if she felt things way too deeply. This was too weird for her. Way, way too weird. Ino wished it was part of some sick hidden camera show, that an announcer was going to pop out of the bushes and say, "GOT YOU, YAMANAKA INO! THIS IS ALL JOKE!"

"So, does anyone want to let me in on exactly what's going on?" she asked, untangling herself from Naruto. "And I mean what's really going on. Don't try to lie-- I'll know."

[silkcranes]

Time to go.

A faint look of sincere irritation came over Neji's face when they were joined by Shikamaru and Kankurou. Not that he had seen either of them for a very long time--especially the latter, but then, this was his domain now, wasn't it?--but Neji didn't like crowds and he preferred to meet angels in Heaven. In his natural habitat.

That, and he didn't really feel like explaining anything to Ino. Not anything that he could explain, anyway. He wasn't one of them that could lie, after all.

Glancing at Naruto as if to say Don't you dare do anything that will make me stay, Neji inclined his head slightly to Ino, feeling a sudden surge of...something. His blood was pumping faster. It was odd and he felt discomforted--all the better reason to get away.

"It was nice meeting you, Ino." He said quietly, turning his eyes to Kankurou and raising one eyebrow as if that said it all before he made his exit.

[exiled_light]

Naruto looked from Ino as she pulled away from him to Neji when he heard him speak up about leaving. The blond was about to make a spastic movement of resistance and would have even glomped Neji again if he hadn’t caught that look on the older angel’s face. Naruto pouted and displayed his dislike greatly at being left here to deal with-- whatever discontentment, that Ino had by himself.

Cause he sure as heck knew Shikamaru and Kankurou weren’t going to make things any better.

Shrugging, and planning a prank on Neji later in the back of his mind Naruto turned to look back to Ino and gave her a warm smile. Frankily, he didn’t know why she was so suddenly angry or whatever at them all. In his eyes, they were just a bunch of people who knew each other and seemed to suddenly meet up. What was wrong with having a bunch of old acquaintances talking again? Did Ino know more than he knew

[swear_i_tripped]

"Of course you're good," Kankurou said lightly, craning his head back to look at the fireworks. The sparks sizzled hotly against the sky, and he keenly missed his old sword again. Taking the wings had been annoying, but his sword... "You're a real angel, Naruto. You en't got a bad bone in your body."

He, on the other hand, had marrow rotted from mortality and sin, obviously. That would explain why he was just fine with tipping Ino off and probably setting her afire. Kankurou was bored with this existence---watching her blaze at Naruto, Shikamaru, and Neji could be amusing.

And really, what did he have to lose? The Big Man had fucked him clean upon expulsion; he had nothing but his wounded ego.

[not_sympathetic]

Here she was, minding her own business and enjoying the festival and generally ignoring her abnormality happily. For a few days Ino couldn't stand leaving her house, being around a crowd of people for fear of head explosions or making people feel emotions that didn't belong to them. Now, if Kankurou wasn't a pathological liar, she was outside on a very hot, humid night, crowded by a bunch of angels on one side, people on the other.

It was very stifling.

Ino willed away her impending headache and tried to calm her heart beat, but she could hear it in her ears and feel it at her throat. Sweat beaded at the back of her neck and for a moment, taking off her obi and peeling down the tops of her robes was almost an option. It would have been better just to walk away and go home, going on with life as though the last few weeks had been nothing but a dream. This night? A hallucination. Clearly.

"R-really...?" she asked in a hushed voice, trying to ignore the murmurs of some people in the crowd.

Do you feel that?

[exiled_light]

Naruto gaped. His jaw fell slack as he just stared at Kankurou for a good long moments. He hardly registered what Ino had mumbled for he was too busy just staring at the demoted angel. Blue eyes swam with confusion and he nearly jumped at Kankurou